The following is a fatwa of the grand scholar, Ash Shaykh Ahmed ibn Yahya Aali Shubayr An Najmi from a fabulous collection of some of his fatawaa entitled "Fathul Rabbil Wadood feel Fataawaa war Rasaa'il war Rudood"...

[Question number:] 388

Title: If the Young Man Proposing is Religious and of Good Character, it is Best to Accept His Proposal

Question: Indeed, a young man has proposed to me and I am still in my last year of studies in college. In addition, this young man-oh shaykh- has a small impairment in his foot. I don't know whether it's because of an accident or if Allah created him that way. I'm confused about whether I should accept marrying him or not, keeping in mind that I hear good things about him concerning his character and good qualities. Therefore, I fear that if I refuse marrying him, other men will approach me [for marriage] that I'm not [or won't be] pleased with and my life after which will become horrible. So, I hope, from your excellence, that you will honor me by giving me some direction with what you see suitable for me so that I can live a happy life by Allah's will and mercy, happy with what Allah has decreed for me. May Allah reward you.

Answer: All praise is due to Allah and may his special blessings and peace be upon Allah's messenger, his family and companions. As for the issue at hand, [when searching for a spouse] the concern of muslim men and women should be the person of deen and good character. As such, women have to give great importance to a man of deen and good character, because of the Hadeeth, " Find success with the one with deen, may your hands be dusty". If the young man mentioned is a man of deen and good character, and if his impairment is minute, then seek Allah's guidance by praying Al Istikhaarah. Then, if he persists, agree to marrying him and don't turn him away, because you may regret it?and with Allah is all success.

It obligatory upon the one who is in charge of the affairs of a daughter or a sister, or the one placed in charged of her marriage arrangement, that he selects a righteous companion for her. He (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: 'If there comes to you one with whose religion and attitude you are satisfied, then give your daughter to him in marriage, for if you do not do so, fitnah and mischief will become widespread on earth.'

If you do not give the one under your care to one whom you are pleased with his Religion, trustworthiness and character, then great corruption will occur; since you will marry her to one from the people of nifaaq or one from the people of innovation, so that she becomes misguided alongside him and you will be the cause of that.[1]

Sheikhul Islaam (rahimahullaah) stated:

And Allaah has made permissible for the Muslims to marry the ahlul kitaab (i.e. the women of the Jews and Christians), and the ahlul kitaab (the men of the Jews and Christains) are not to marry the women of the muslims; because marriage is a type of bondage, as Umar (radiyallaahu anhu) said:

'Marriage is bondage, so let one of you look to the one he gives his precious daughter to in bondage.'

And Zaid Ibn Thaabit(radiyallaahu anhu) said:

'The husband has been referred to as a master in the Book of Allaah and then he (radiyallaahu-anhu) recited the saying of Allaah: 'They both found her master (i.e. her husband) at the door'12:25 [2]-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Therefore, O Sunni Salafi! You must examine the people in these times of fitnah; for there are sign posts by which the Salafis are recognised and sign posts by which the people of Bidah, Tamyi and Hizbiyyah are recognized. Indeed, the man and woman upon the correct manhaj would hate to marry a person upon bidah, hizbiyyah and Tamyi, or to one who shows closeness to them.